Thursday, December 30, 2010

Kiehl's Creme De Corps is my favourite luxury body lotion. It is more expensive than regular drugstore brands (USD$10 for 2.5 fl bottle to USD$70 for 1 litre bottle). I love it because it is so good for my dry and flaky skin. When I heard that they came out with the whipped body butter version, I knew I had to try it.

I had resisted temptation of buying it immediately, instead I waited till after Thanksgiving to order. That is when the online stores give good discounts. I was sorely disappointed to find out that they were not accepting international credit cards anymore. Sigh, no more super cheap Kiehl's. I ordered from Nordstrom instead. Even though I did not enjoy the 20% discount, it was still cheaper than buying it here in Singapore. The thing is you have to order more to enjoy cost savings. If I'm not mistaken it costs about SGD$60-65 in Singapore. It is USD$35, so you do the math.

This luxuriously scented cream is light on skin yet rich in 24-hour hydration. This formula is quickly absorbed to deliver deep moisturization with an addictive scent.

I felt that the whipped body butter version doesn't absorb that well as compared to the regular Creme de Corps. It didn't leave a sticky sensation but it didn't feel light weight either. For those who prefer really light weight lotions, I think you can skip this.

It is still very good for dry skin. My skin felt soft and smooth for the entire day. I also felt that the scent was a little more pronounced. I can't really describe the scent, it is very earthy without the floral perfume scent. I think I prefer the bottled version and will go back to it after using this tub.

Asos is currently having free international shipping. Previously they wer also having a 20% discount for all Asos items so I took the opportunity to get some items. As you can see they are all black! I find that sometimes the material can be quite thin, so black is the safest bet.

Brocade Elatic Belt

Ruffled black jersy blouse

Sleeveless black bodysuit

Maxi dress from Just Jeans

Odd one out, the maxi dress I got from Perth, just wanted to show it off.

I'm crazy about rainboots. Singapore is experiencing lots of rain of late, these boots keep my feet dry and cozy.

Friday, December 24, 2010

I used to have very oily skin, thankfully visits to the dermatlogist have solved that problem once and for all. Now I have combi skin that gets just slightly oily.

All my life, I had been plagued with serious adult acne. If you are in the same boat as I was, please go to a dermatologist as soon as you can. If I had done so alot sooner, I would have been saved myself from all the acne scars I have right now.

Makeup Remover for Eyes and Lips: Clinique's Take The Day Off Make Up Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips All Skin Types

Just soak your cotton pad with this and gently press it onto your eye. Within a minute, you will see that most of your eye makeup and stubborn mascara would have come off. Then gently wipe your eyes again to remove all traces of makeup. Great for lips too, its gentle and removes everything.

General Makeup Remover: Fancl's Mild Cleansing Oil

I like that it is preservative free. So much cheaper than premium brand Shu Uemura and works just as well.

Cleanser: Kiehl's Yerba Maté Tea Cleanser

Yerba Mate is a herbal tea extract that helps to keep your skin youthful looking. Suitable for all kind types, it is also gentle on the skin.

Toner: Kiehl's Yerba Maté Tea Toner

Always looks out for toners without alcohol, they are not drying. This is my final step in removing all traces of makeup.

I used Estee Lauder at night and Kiehl's in the morning. Both absorb very quickly into my skin. The night repair is more of a liquid whereas Kiehl's has a more gel like consistency.

As I grow older, I realise that it is important to keep my skin hydrated. Kiehl's gives me that extra hydration without making my face oily. The night repair helps me combat all the environmental damage.

Moisturiser: Kiehl's Yerba Mate Tea Lotion

This is perfect for oily skin. It is a gel which sinks into the skin quickly. Full of ingredients to keep skin healthy.

Thursday, December 23, 2010

As you should know by now, I am currently in love with all things Chanel. What as expensive love it is though! Confidence is the lastest addition to my Chanel gloss family. I have Insolence (Bubblegum pink), Genie (bright peach coral) and Exces (bright red).

Confidence is a warm pink that goes very well with Confidentelle Rouge Allure and Mademoiselle Rouge Coco. On its own, it looks great too. It has just a hint of shimmer.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

The Chanel Joues Contraste blush in Pink Explosion was one of the few items I purchased at Changi DFS during my trip to Perth. I had wanted this for some time now but they were out of stock in the local retail stores. I thought I would try my luck and see if they had it at DFS. This costs SGD $51.50 at DFS so much cheaper than at retail stores which cost SGD $63. So if you ever go overseas be sure to grab your Joues Contraste there instead.

Read a more dteailed review of Joues Contraste in Tea Rose here, swatches of Rose Petale here and Reflex here.

Pink Explosion is a brighter and fresh pink. It is pigmented and soft and best of all subtle. You won't overdo your cheeks unlike MAC's Dollymix. It has slight unnoticeable shimmer.

I placed all the Chanel pink blushes side by side for a comparison. As you can see Pink Explosion is a much cooler pink, Rose Petale is warmer. Tea Rose kinda looks slightly peachy here.

Left to right: Tea Rose, Rose Petale and Pink Explosion

Pink Explosion on my cheeks

Ratings: 4 lipsticks

Incidently, I'm very excited about the upcoming 2011 Chanel Spring collection. If you have seen the Joues Contraste in Espiegel it is so beautiful. Its a warm peach which I'm dying to swatch. Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog has swatches and closeup of pictures of the items. Read about it here. I'm eyeing the blush, the eye palette and both Rouge Allures. Better start saving for them.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

-a weightless mousse makeup base that helps to even out the skintone and texture, reduce redness and minimize the appearance of pores. use before makeup application to prepare the face for flawless makeup. why you'll love this base:

-delightfully fresh and light for the utmost comfort on skin. light and airy mousse makeup base is 20 times lighter in weight compares to liquid or cream type makeup bases, this allows the skin to feel as if it can breathe freely.

-fine-textured mousse gently & effortlessly spreads onto the skin to create a thin even layer. provides an excellent fit for a beautiful and lasting foundation finish.

I've been dying to try this out for the longest time. I love my GA Fluid Master Primer alot too so I had no reason to stray until now.

When I use my GA Face Fabric, I skip my Fluid Master primer because Face Fabric already has silicon in it. I've been toying around with the idea of layering it with Shu Uemura's Underbase for the spf and more coverage. Well the opportunity arose during my Perth trip. I was given a $50 voucher which I used to pay for the underbase. It costs SGD$63 at Changi Airport.

There were two shades. A pink and a beige shade. I chose the beige version as my skintone leans towards warm.

I used this almost everyday while I was at Perth.

Initially I used too much. The underbase comes in a metal canister which you shake before depressing the nozzle. Do not press it all the way down. Just press enough for a 50 cent coin, that would be sufficient to cover the entire face. I used my trusty MAC 190 travel foundation brush to apply this, I find that it works better than my fingers.

I find that I look slightly whitish when I first apply the underbase. But after layering it with my foundation either GA Face Fabric or GA Lasting UV Silk Foundation, it doesn't look obvious. It doesn't feel as smooth as my Fluid Master, I think it is because of the lack of silicon. It is easy to apply my foundation. It glides on and stays put.

I love how matt this keeps me. I don't have to blot for at least a few hours. I also love the fact that I don't have to apply sunblock, the spf in this is good enough. I guess you can use it on its own as a sunblock but it provides very minimal coverage. If you have flawless skin and don't want the hassle of applying foundation, this could be a good choice for you but for mere mortals like myself, I definitely need something else to make myself look presentable.

I'm still not sure if I would buy it again. It is a good product but not something that would cause me to hyperventilate over.

If you read my one and only post from Perth, you would know that my Olympus camera drowned in te sea. It was supposed to be a waterproof camera which we have tested in the pool before. DH wanted to take closer pictures of the waves but some how the camera took in water. Can you imagine the LCD screen was filled with water!

Well, I went out seraching for a point and shoot camera. I am not a photography expert, so I want something that is easy to use and at the same time be able to take great pictures especially under the macro setting.

This is what I got.

The Panasonic Lumix TZ10. So far I have been enjoying taking pictures. The pictures are very crisp and clear. I love the iAuto mode best. I don't have to change any settings or select scenes, the camera automatically chooses the correct settings for me. Perfect for this noob.

Sunday, December 19, 2010

I have really been into lip products this year. You will see that a particular brand dominates this category.

Drugstore Lip Balm: Smith's Rosebud Salve

This is a great multi purpose product. It is the best thing to use especially if you sleep in an air-conditioned room all the time. I put this on every night and wake up with soft and smooth lips. It might be too slick though for lipstick applicaton.

Luxury Lip Balm: Chanel Hydramax + Active Nutrition

This luxurious pot I use for lip prep before lipstick application. I apply this before I apply primer to soften and ready my lips. During my trip to Perth, the wind was strong and this helped to keep my lips from cracking. Apply this over lipstick to give it a glossy shine. My lips don't peel even after many hours of lipstick wear.

Lipgloss: Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait De Gloss

I love everything about this gloss. It is not as tacky as MAC lipglasses but they stay on relatively longer than other glosses. It does not contain sparkle or shimmer, what it gives is high shine. It amps up all lipsticks and looks good on its own. The colours are pigmented enough to stand on its own. The tall black lacquer glass packaging is gorgeous and luxe. Just be careful not to drop it.

Liquid Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Allure Lacque

This is a liquid lipstick and is creamy and oh so pigmented. It is a dream to apply and you do not need any gloss, it gives a shine on its own. After a few applications, they do stain the lips but your lips remain soft and moisturised.

Sheer Lipstick: Korres Mango Butter Sheer Lipstick

If you want a sheer lipstick that gives a hint of colour. Korres is the brand to go. Colours are natural and have Spf 10. They are very moisturising. Although they aren't long lasting, what a joy they are to reapply.

Full Coverage Lipstick: Chanel Rouge Allure

There is no mistaking how much I love Rouge Allures, creamy satiny colour that is moisturising. The click casing and black metal casng just screams class and luxe.

Lip liner: MAC Lip pencil

My MAC lipliner pencils are creamy and draws smoothly. They price point is also a big plus.